Families, staff and community members gathered in Red Deer Wednesday, in the latest push to try and keep a long-standing care home for people with disabilities open.
The province announced on March 11 that adults living in the Michener Centre in Red Deer would be transitioned into community homes over the coming months.
On Wednesday, about 250 people gathered outside of Red Deer’s City Hall, to protest the future closure of the facility, which is home to about 125 people with disabilities – many of whom have lived there for decades.
It’s a closure Lee Kvern hopes to help stop – her sister has lived at Michener for years, and has tried living in a group home, but Kvern said that didn’t work.
“My sister went from a fairly easy going gal up at Michener, to escalating behaviours in the community,” Kvern said. “One of the low points of her behaviour was when in her non-verbal frustration she tried to rip a gas stove apart with her bare hands.”
Kvern said her sister lived in a group home for eight years before moving back into Michener.
“Close it down when those people aren’t there anymore,” NDP Human Services Critic Rachel Notley said. “But don’t rip them out of a home they’ve been in for 20, 30 years and plop them somewhere else with nowhere near the resources to continue their quality of life.”
Critics, such as Notley, claim the government is closing the facility to save money – once it’s closed, the province could save about $170,000 per year, per person.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that absolutely, there is a cost savings involved here,” Frank Oberle, Minister for Persons with Disabilities said. “But if I’m allowed to provide better care to more people you’re darn right I’m going to seize that opportunity.”
The province said no one will be moved until a plan for their care is in place, it’s hoped the transitions will be complete in the fall.
With files from Amanda Anderson
